REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
OF THE SONOMA CITY COUNCIL
City Council Chambers
cry Council: 177 First Street West
R0“ WellandervMay” Wednesday, March 4, 2026 Sandra Lowe, Vice Mayor Patricia Farrar—Rivas
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John Gurney 6:00 PM Regular Meeting
Jack Ding
REGULAR MEETING
CONVENE, CALL TO ORDER, & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Wellander called the meeting to order at 6:05 pm.
ROLL CALL:
PRESENT: Mayor Wellander, Vice Mayor Lowe, Council Member Farrar—Rivas, Council Member Gurney, and Council Member Ding
CLOSED SESSION
City Council held a Closed Session; no reportable action was taken.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Motion by Council Member Farrar-Rivas, seconded by Vice Mayor Lowe, to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried unanimously by voice vote.
1. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
Kate Schertz, Connie Schlelein, Jamie Love, Pat Myer Johnson, John Caner, Linda Keaton, Richard Price, Landon LaMoin, and Jim Silverman provided public comments.
2. MEETING DEDICATIONS
None.
3. COUNCILMEMBERS’REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Council Member Gurney appointed Jamie Love to the Cultural and Fine Arts Commission (CFAC) as his direct appointment.
Vice Mayor Lowe attended a Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) meeting today, March 4, 2026.
Council Member Ding attended a Zero Waste Sonoma meeting on February 19, 2026. He also attended a Sonoma County Mayors and Councilmembers Association Legislative Committee meeting on February 20, 2026, where he was selected as vice-chair for this year.
Since the last City Council meeting, Mayor Wellander reported that he met to receive an update on the Ting Project. He also participated in the Mountain Cemetery Clean-Up on February 28, attended a Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau meeting at the Fairmont Hotel last week, and attended Jim Silverman’s presentation at the Vintage House. In partnership with the Chamber of Commerce, the Mayor also recognized Larry Nadeau, Hospitality Director for EnCIov. Additionally, Mayor Wellander commended the Sonoma Police Department for their efforts during the recent tragedy involving a fatality on Broadway.
4. CITY MANAGER COMMENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
City Manager Guhin expressed gratitude to the thirteen volunteers who participated in last Saturday’s Mountain Cemetery Clean-Up. He also announced that the City has opened the Discretionary Funding Application period, which will remain open through April 3, 2026.
5. CITYATTORNEY COMMENTS
None.
6. PRESENTATIONS
Item 6.1: Proclamation Designating March 2026 as American Red Cross Month in the City of Sonoma Item 6.2: Proclamation Designating March 2026 as Women‘s History Month in the City of Sonoma Item 6.3: Presentation by Sonoma Water on FY 2026-2027 Proposed Budget & Rates - Water Transmission System
7. CONSENT CALENDAR — CITYCOUNCIL
Regular Meeting Minutes, March 4, 2026
Motion by Vice Mayor Lowe, seconded by Council Member Gurney, to approve the Consent Calendar as presented. Motion carried unanimously.
Item 7.1: Waive further reading and Authorize Introduction and/or Adoption of Ordinances by Title Only. (Standard procedural action - no backup information provided) Item 7.2: Receive Minutes from the Special Meeting of January 30, 2026 and the Special Meeting of January 30, 2026 (Rebekah Barr, MMC, City Clerk)
Action: The minutes were received from the Special Meeting of January 30, 2026, the Regular Meetings of February 4, 2026 and February 18, 2026.
Item 7.3: Adopt a Resolution Approving a Cooperative Funding Agreement with Sonoma County Transportation Authority (SCTA) for Go Sonoma Measure M Funds for CIP Project No. T6, Citywide Safety Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvements (Ashley Cotter, Public Works Admin & Project Manager)
Action: Adopted as Resolution 05-2026.
Item 7.4: Adopt a Resolution Authorizing Certain City Officials and Staff Members to Order Deposits and Withdrawals from the Local Agency Investment Fund (LAIF) (David Guhin, City Manager) Action: Adopted as Resolution 06-2026.
Item 7.5: Adopt a Resolution Authorizing an Extension of a 1% ofthe Transient Occupancy Tax that was Approved by Council Effective September 1, 2019, for Use for Affordable Housing (David Guhin, City Manager)
Action: Adopted as Resolution 07-2026.
8. PUBLIC HEARING
None.
9. REGULAR CALENDAR — CITY COUNCIL
The Mayor called for a recess at 7:09 pm; Council reconvened at 7:15 pm.
Item 9.1: Discussion on the General Plan Update Process and Future Land Use Map (Jennifer Gates, AICP, Community Development Director) Action: Council discussed the General Plan Update process and future land use map and provided staff with direction.
Public Comment: Sonia Carabell, Karina, Titza Carris, Alex Tredwell, Nedia, Janet Boyle, Becky Sager, Amy Alterman, Jean Olivarie, Julie King, Robert Demler, Jeanie Shram, Victor Conforti, Mike Menne?, Andrea Foreman, Carrie Gerster, Claudia Robins, Ray Shaken, Mitchel Price, Diane DuVaII, Michael Woods, Joe Cuneo, Pat Summers, and Connie McCann.
Lovall Velly Road
Direction provided to staff:
Land Use Change from “Agriculture" to a new “AgricuIture-Residential" zoning with one dwelling unit per two acres.
Sonoma Highway
Direction provided to staff:
Land Use Change from “Housing Opportunity” to “Mixed Use" Sebastiani Property
Direction provided to staff:
Keep the two existing lots zoned for agricultural use.
Keep the Land Use Change of Sonoma Mixed Commercial Use for rest of parcels with proposed description with modification to remove “visitor serving” Update the density consistent with Medium Density Residential which is 7-15 units per acre. Update the Floor Area Ratio (FAR) to .5 max Motion by Vice Mayor Lowe, seconded by Council Member Ding, to continue the meeting after 9:00 p.m. Motioncarried unanimously by voice vote.
Item 9.2: Appointment to the Sonoma Valley Community Advisory Commission (Rebekah Barr, MMC, City Clerk) Action: Adam Ross was appointed to the Sonoma Valley Community Advisory Commission (SVCAC) as a regular member.
Motion by Vice Mayor Lowe, seconded by Council Member Farrar-Rivas, to appoint Adam Ross to the vacant regular seat on the Sonoma Valley Community Advisory Commission (SVCAC). Motion carried unanimously by voice vote.
10. SECOND PUBLIC COMMENT (ONLY REQUIRED lF PUBLIC SPEAKERS REMAINFROM ITEM2.0) None.
Regular Meeting Minutes, March 4, 2026
11. ADJOURNEMENT
Mayor Wellander adjourned the meeting at 10:18 pm.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing minutes were duly and regularly received at a regular meeting of the Sonoma Ci uncil on the 18‘hof March 2026.
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" ” %\/ /( MoniqueSaW“ , MC, CMC, Deputy City Clerk
Regular Meeting Minutes, March 4, 2026